Spain Finally Gets First Davis Cup Title

Even Spain’s king had to cover his eyes with victory so close.

Then Juan Carlos Ferrero provided the winning point, and the king joined the singing, flag-waving crowd in celebrating Spain’s first Davis Cup title in the history of the event, which began in 1900.

Ferrero needed almost four hours on the slow clay to defeat Lleyton Hewitt, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, Sunday for an insurmountable 3-1 lead over defending champion Australia in the best-of-five series.

“It’s one of my best victories, well, the best,” said Ferrero, whose country entered Davis Cup competition in 1921. “I’m on cloud nine.”

Only twice before Spain had advanced to the Davis Cup finals, both times losing to Australia on grass in the 1960s.

Sunday’s remaining singles match between Alex Corretja and Patrick Rafter was called off, leaving the final team score, 3-1.

Ferrero got the winner with a backhand passing shot down the line. The shot came on the fourth match point of the game after Ferrero had been up 15-40 and could not convert. He finally did on his second ad point. “I was very nervous because we were so close and I was just trying to play as normal as possible,” he said.

After the winning shot, Ferrero’s teammates raced on court and piled on, creating a minor dust bowl. Corretja, Spain’s top player all season, hoisted Ferrero on his shoulders and circled the court heading for the royal box.

With the crowd at Palau Sant Jordi chanting “campeones” (champions), King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia reached over a railing and shook Ferrero’s hand.

An avid tennis fan, the king embraced the Spanish players and captain Javier Duarte as he handed over miniatures of the cup. Then he patted Hewitt--who Friday in singles had posted Australia’s only victory--on the cheek to console him, pausing for a minute to joke with John Newcombe, Australia’s captain.

“I said to the king that I was watching him towards the end of the match on some of those points--and he had his hands covering his eyes,” said Newcombe, who is retiring from the Davis Cup with coach Tony Roche. “He was very nervous, so we just laughed about it.”

Duarte paid tribute to those instrumental in building Spanish tennis, including Manuel Santana, who was fired a year ago as captain. Santana did not attend the final, playing instead in a tournament in Florida.